Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-06-22
y GORGEOUS PALACE.
Description OF the Charming Mango
Gardens OF the King OF Siam.

The Summer Palace of the King, the
Mango Gardens. is considered the
hand~omest place In Sam. The main
building is erected in the style of a
French chateau, and is surrounded
with grounds land of with great skill
by a landscape gardener, paths winding
in serpentine sinuosity in every dlrec
ton, flowers of all kinds fill the air
with perfume, and to add to the Charms
of the place miniature lakes, dotted
over with lotus plants in blossom. 6ash
their sparkling waters in the sun
shine.
These lakes are fed from the river
that flows in front cf the palace, which
together with the yard, is enclosed By
a wall containing number of hand
some buildings set apart for the various
wives of the King. Through the kind
ness Of the gardener in charge / was
shown through the palace, the King
being absent, he not staying there
more than month during the year.
The palace IS built of teak and other
costly woods, the walls paneled most
handsomely; the hard wood polished
like a mirror, bringing out the grain;
the ceiling lofty, laid off In handsome
designs and most elaborately gilded;
the floors a mosaic Of various woods
also highly polished, each room a diff
feTent design, while the broad flight Of
steps that leads to the second story,
the sleeping apartments-is Simply
grand, in keeping with the magniicence
of the interior.
The Kings chamber, bathrooms,
etc., were worthy of the abode OF roy
atty and his couch a''thing of beauty
if not "a Joy forever" 1t was made of
rare wood and carved in the most ex-
quislte designs, draped with rare lace
fr.nged with gold; a gold embroidered
spread covered the bed; the pillows and
holsters were also hemmed with lace,
and above 1t swung handsome punka
to keep him cool. 1t seemed more like
a work of art to please the eye than the
resting place of one who courted slum-
Der, surcease of business and trouble
arising from the control of over 7,0Q0,-
0O0 people.
In some OF the rooms We noticed
some very handsome furniture and
pictures, costly tables. crystal and ala
baster vases, ETC., though the place
was dismantled during the absence of
royalty. 1t is place that one tired of
power and the world would retire to
for a month and live in elysIum or
Oriental ease. In the center of several
OF the lakes handsome payilious are
where the band discourses
music, and on their rippling surface
float barges ready to bear the wives
and children or family or the King,
when lie concludes to pass his time
there.
Scattered throughout the gardens
are cages containing monkeys, birds,
ETC., that add not little TO the pict-
uresqueness Of the scene. For over an
hour our party strolled through the
we!l-kept grounds and gardens. fifty
men being constantly employed In
and keeping them in order.
Amid grove Of rarest foliage, musical
with birds. is a handsome Italian
erected to the memory of
the late Queen, who was drowned by
the sinking Of yacht, erected by the
King, and by his special direction kept
in the neatest order.
As our time was limited we could
see but a portion Of the beauties of this
lovely place. 1t would take a column
10 speak at length of the various pa
aces that are scattered over the
grounds, the Oriental watch and bell
lower that stands like giant sentinel
towering over all, the handsome wat,
built like a Gothic cathedral, stained
glass windows, but the shrill whistle of
)ur steam launch reminds US that
time is up" and, with sigh of re-
yret, our party left the lovely Mango
Iardens, its world of flowers. It's fra
,rant atmosphere and paradisical
elysium where one could |
lream life away, the Nepenthe of the |
'Oet, where no raven will ever ''slt on |
'allid bust of Pallas," but eternal sun
hine gilds the velvet curtains and |
asts glory on the glistening floors.